SD2453. Isa Blagden to Euphrasia Fanny Haworth

Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 29, 288.

[Florence]

Sunday 30th June [1861] [1]

My dear Miss Haworth

I scarcely know how to write to you. I know what you will feel and I am anxious to spare you the shock in case a stray paper were to reach you or meet your eye with the fatal intelligence. Our beloved Ba is no more. She had a week’s illness but did not seem worse than usual– First a violent attack of spasmodic cough from congestion on the 22 June—and then intense weakness– I did not see her the first few days, that is she was taken ill in the night between Saturday & Sunday and she was not allowed to speak. On Thursday & Friday she was better & I saw her both days on Friday I saw as late as 8 o’clock. On Saturday morning at 4 o’clock she died in Mr Brownings arms, peacefully & without pain– He had been alarmed from the first & had only got into bed one night since the attack & then merely to please her. On Friday night he was sitting up & she spoke to him with the tenderest affection to the very end. God help him & us– I thought how much you loved her & therefore write. My loss is entire—I loved no one so well.

Yours IB

Address: Miss Haworth / Zwinger Strasse 3 / I Etage / Dresden Saxsonia.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.

1. Year provided by postmark.

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